The history of ballroom dancing competitions can be traced to pre–World War I days, and its popularity has increased over the years, most dramatically in the 1990s. DanceSport, the competitive version of ballroom dancing, requires athletic skills, combined with required techniques, floorcraft, and artistic interpretation, to produce a disciplined dance performance.

Humans have a fundamental desire for regular rhythmic movement. Whether this desire takes the form of athletics, activities of daily living, or dance, the human body is the essential instrument for each.